Signaling system.



.I. F. D. HOGE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1915.

1,236,484.. PatentedAug.14,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INV EN TOR.

, BY/"ZZ/ K M ATTORNEY J. F. D. HUGE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1916.

PatntedAug. 14-, 1917.

Z SHEETSSHEET Z.

INVENTHR.

- W1 'INESSES:

ATTORNEY STATES ATEN JOSEPH F. D. I-IOGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DISTRICT TELE- GRAPH COMPANY, OF JERSEY CIIY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

wearer.

Application filed October 9, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. D. Hoon, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to signaling systems, and particularly to systems wherein one or more call boXes, thermostats, burglar alarms, or other transmitting devices are to cause the operation of signal giving devices in a plurality of circuits. The system is particularly applicable to fire alarm systems of large stores, Warehouses, etc., Where, in the event of fire, alarms are to be sounded at a large number of different points. In such systems, it is usually desirable that only a relatively small number of alarm giving devices shall be located in any one circuit; hence the occasion for the provision of a plurality of circuits for such alarm giving devices. It is desirable that the circuits shall be constantly under test, so that in case of any derangement (such for example as breaking of the circuit, or grounding of the circuit,) a trouble signal shall be given; yet in case an alarm is sounded, the several circuits of the alarm giving devices should be connected separately to the source of current supply; so that derangement of one such circuit shall not prevent operation of the other circuits, and so that there shall be ample current in each circuit for the operation of the alarm giving devices thereof. To accomplish this purpose, according to my present invention the alarm giving circuits are connected, normally, in series relation with the source of current supply, a trouble signal device being included in such series circuit; but when an alarm is given the several circuits of the alarm giving devices are connected in multiple, automatically, with the source of current supply. My invention consists, principally, in a system wherein the several alarm-giving circuits, normally in series relation, may be switched into multiple relation for the sounding of an alarm; and in automatic means for so connecting the circuits in series relation normally, and for switching them into multiple relation when an alarm is to be sounded.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. Ji l, 1917.

Serial No. 124,459.

Other features of my invention will be pointed out hereafter.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and automatic means for maintain ing the circuits of the signal-giving devices, as well as the signal-transmitting circuit, under test normally, and to provide each of the circuits of the signal giving devices with separate current supply connections during the sounding of an alarm, and to do this by simple and entirely automatic means. I

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, one arrangement of circuits and apparatus conveniently employed in accordance with my invention Fig. 2 shows, diagrammatically, the relay arrangement preferably employed for switching from series to multiple circuit arrangement and vice versa;

Fig. 3 shows, diagrammatically, the relay preferably employed for actuating the trouble circuit.

Referring first to Fig. 1, V and G designate, respectively, incoming and outgoing current leads, and A a multiple-contact relay which effects the switching from series to multiple, as before mentioned. T designates a transmitter circuit and F F and F designate respectively three circuits for alarm giving devices, which devices are designated by character F. B designates a trouble-circuit relay.

The transmitter circuit T starts from current supply conductor V, and includes a resistance R and a suitable number of transmitters T These transmitters may be of any suitable type. Conveniently, they may be ordinarily hand-operated call boxes, connected in series in the circuit T; but they may also be automatically released or automatically operated transmitters of well known type, for example, transmitters which are thermostatically controlled or thermostatically operated; or they may be more thermostats of a type which, when it operates, opens the circuit to which it is connected. The particular type of transmitter employed is unimportant, so far as my present invention is concerned.

' consequ ent giving of a trouble signal.

The alarm giving devices F may be of any suitable type; conveniently, they may be electric bells, as indicated diagrammatically; but they may also be electric whistles, or buazers, or any other devices suitable for giving signals, either visual or audible.

The transmitter circuit T, besides including the transmitters T as above stated, includes the magnet of the switching relay A, and then is connected to the opposite current supply conductor G.

The normal or test circuit for the alarm giving circuits 1*, T and F is as follows:

From current supply conductor Vthrough resistances R and R to one side of circuit F and through that circuit F and circuit F in Sil'ltS, to resistance It, thence through resistance B, through circuit F and thence through the magnet of relay B and resistance R to the other current supply conductor (i. :ietween resistances R and R there is a current tap leading to back contact A of relay A. Between circuits F and F there is a current tap leading to back contact A of relay A. Between resistances R and R (and therefore between circuits F and F there is a current tap leading to relay back contact 21 and from the return side of the circuit F" there is a current tap leading to relay back contact A The armature contacts a and a are connected to current supply conductor V, and the armature contacts a" and a are connected, preferably through a suitable resistance R to return conductor G.

Trouble signal relay 13 controls, through a back contact, a trouble circuit containing a signal. giving device (such for exampleas a hell) D, and a source of current supply 7 therefor. It will be clear that when the armature of relay B is released, the signal device D will operate or sound.

From the foregoing it will be clear that, normally, circuits F F and F are in series relation with respect to conductors V and G, and therefore that in case of an interruption or ground in any one of these circuits, or in case the current supply falls below some predetermined value, the magnet of relay B will be deenergized, or at least, its magnetization will fall to so low a value, as to permit the release of the armature of that relay, with consequent closing of the circuit of the trouble signal device D, and the Owing to the relatively large resistance in this series circuit, due both to the length of the several circuits F F and F comprising that circuit, and the resistance of the magnets of the bells or other signal giving devices included in that circuit, as well as to the various resistances R R R R", and R included in that series circuit, the current employed for testing will be very small.

In case an alarm be given by one of the transmitters T the magnet of relay A will be deenergized and the various armature contacts ci a, will drop back and make contact with their various back contact stops il -A so connecting the several alarm giving circuits F F and F separately to the conductors V and Gr, as follows:

F is connected with conductor V through contacts a and A and resistance R and is connected with conductor G through contacts A and ax. F is connected with conductor V through contacts a and A and resistance It, and is connected with conductor G through contact-s A and a. F is connected with conductor V through 0011- tacts a and A and is connected with conductor G through contacts 2& and 44 It will thus be seen that upon the operation of any one of the transmitters T each of the circuits F F and F is connected, independently of each of theother of said circuits, to conductors V and G, and each such circuit F F and F receives current of a strength determined by the resistance in that circuit. The various resistances indicated are regulating resistances, of values determined at the time of installation, and are such that current of a strength required for the operation of the various signal giving devices F ineach such circuit, will be supplied. It will be understood thatthe initial or test current, passing through such circuits when they are in series relation, is not sullicient to 'cause the operation of the various alarm giving devices F, but when the several circuits F F and F 'are inmultiple relation, the current received by such circuits will be ample to cause the operation of all of the devices F.

If the transmitters T are of atype which transmit a signal by successive breaking and completing of a circuit, the several signal giving devices F will each sound the signal transmitted by such transmittenbecause of the alternate breaking and closing of the contacts of relay A. Should the transmitters T be of a type which merely opens transmitter circuitT, "(for example, should these'transmitte'rs 'T be thermostats which merelyopen thecircuit in which. they are included, when they operate) the several signal giving devices F should preferably be of a type which will continue to operate during the supply of current of operating value thereto. In such case these devices F may be vibrating bells or electric whistles, or devices of that nature.

It will be obviousthat in case circuit T should be broken or grounded by means other than by the operation of transmitters T the relay A will operate, so that this circuit T is normally under test as are circuits F F and F It will be. noted that the trouble signal device BD operates either in the event of a break or groundin one of the circuits F F F or in the circuit T, so that this trouble signal operates either in the case of trouble or in case of an alarm.

While I have illustrated only three circuits for alarm-giving devices F, it will be obvious that my system is susceptible of indefinite extension in this respect; that if a greater number of such circuits be desired the same may be provided, together with appropriate additional relay contacts, and current connections to such contacts; and, of course, appropriate regulating resistances.

My system herein described therefore possesses the following advantages:

It is adaptable to any number of' signal giving devices F.

The operation of any one of the transmitters will cause the operation of all of the alarm giving devices F.

The transmitter circuit, the circuits of the alarm giving devices, and the various resistances included in circuit normally, are kept under constant test by a single small current, thus using a minimum amount of energy.

When a break or ground occurs on any one of the circuits F F and F a trouble signal is given, but the others of such circuits are not thereby deprived of their ability to cause the sounding of an alarm; this is because for the sounding of alarms the several circuits F F and F are connected in multiple to the source of current supply.

The current for the trouble signal, which passes in series through the circuits F F and F is not made or broken by the action of the contacts of relay A; switching from series to multiple is accomplished, not by breaking of the series circuit, but by the closing of multiple taps from that series circuit. Thereby, the testing circuit is not rendered unreliable due to its passage through any contact of a non-permanent nature.

lVhile in Fig. 1 I have indicated a single relay A, with multiple contacts, for controlling the signal-giving circuits F F and F in practice I prefer to employ a plurality of double contact relays A and A, connected in series in the circuit T, as indicated in Fig. 2. Each of these relays A and A has an armature A", bent at its ends, as shown, so as to form contact surfaces, with stops, contact or otherwise, adapted to make contact with such bent portions so afi'ording a rubbing contact. In Fig. 2 these stops, contact or insulated, are represented by arrows, and to the contact stops have been applied reference characters similar to those applied in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is largely diagrammatic, but illustrates sufliciently the actual construction to enable those skilled in the art to understand it.

Similarly, for the trouble relay B I prefer to employ a double contact relay such as shown in Fig. 3, and there designated by character B the armature of such relay B", being of construction similar to the relay A and A of Fig. 2, both back stops B of this relay being connected to the circuit containing the trouble signal device I) and the battery 7 therefor. By providing two relay back contacts for this circuit, closing of the trouble circuit in the event of retraction of the armature B is rendered quite certain, since one or the other of the contacts B is very sure to close that circuit.

It is obvious that the system herein described is capable of indefinite extension; that is to say, that as many of the circuits F F etc., may be provided as desired, with corresponding provision of additional contacts of relay A or of additional relays such as A and A of Fig. 2, and corresponding additional current taps to effect multiple circuit connection of the various circuits F F etc., to the current leads V and G.

What I claim is 1. In a signaling system, the combination with a main source of current supply and a transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a plurality of signal-giving circuits each containing one or more signalgiving devices, and means controlled by said transmitter circuit normally maintaining said signal-giving circuits in series relation with such source of current supply but arranged to throw such signal-giving circuits into multiple circuit relation with such source of current supply in the event of operation of one of such transmitters, and a trouble signal device included in circuit with said signal giving circuits when the latter are in series relation.

2. In a signaling system, the combination with a main source of current supply and a transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a plurality of signal giving circuits each containing one or more signalgiving devices in it, relay means included in said transmitter circuit, and comprising contacts normally maintaining said signal giving circuits in series relation to such source of current supply, but arranged in the event of operation of one of said transmitters to connect said signal giving circuits in multiple circuit with relation to such source of current supply, and a trouble signal device included in circuit with said signal-giving circuits when the latter are in series relation.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a main source of current supply and a transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a plurality of signal-giving circuits each containing one or more signalgiving devices, said signal-giving circuits permanently connected in series relation with respect to such source of current supply, a trouble signal device included in such series circuit, circuit control means included in such transmitter circuit and comprising contacts certain of which are connected to such source of current supply, and current taps leading from said signal giving circuits to other contacts of said circuit control means, the said contacts and the said current taps arranged to connect the several signal giving circuits indcpendei'itly to such source of current supply in the event that one of such transmitters operates.

.4. In a signaling system, the combination with a main source of current supply and a transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a plurality of signal-giving circuits each containing one or more signalgiving devices, said signal-giving circuits permanently connected in series relation with said source of current supply, a trouble signal device included in such series circuit, relay means included in said transmitter circuit and having contacts, certain of which are connected to such source of current supply, and current taps leading from said signal-giving circuits to others of said contacts of said relay means, the contacts of said relay means and said current taps arranged to connect the several signal-giving circuits independently to such source of current supply in the event that one of such transmitters operates.

5. In a signaling system,the combination Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

with a main source of current supply and a normally closed transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a plurality of signal-giving circuits each containing one or more signal-giving devices in it, said sig- Dual-giving circuits permanently connected in series with said source of current supply, multiple contact relay means included in said tansmitter circuit, and having armature contacts certain of which are connected to one side of the source of current supply, the other arma-ture'co-ntacts being connected to the other side of such source of current supply, current taps connected to said series circuit between the signal-giving circuits comprising the same and at the beginning of the first and at the end'of thelast of such signal-giving circuits, alternate of such current taps connected to the back contacts of said relay means which are connected to the one side of the source of current supply and intermediate current taps connected to the other back contacts of said relay means, and a trouble signal device included in such series circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

V JOSEPH F. D. HUGE.

Witnesses:

II. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKIE;

W'ashingtbn, D. C. 

